South Korea pays extremely well, as does Taiwan. China not as much. Japan pays well, but it’s very expensive to live there. The JET program is fantastic. Most Asian countries don’t expect any knowledge of the local language.

I’m in Spain. My program: http://www.mec.es/sgci/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml
There are programs that allow you to work in the public schools and make a decent amount of money. You’re essentially a ‘cultural ambassador.’ The same program exists in France, and a few other countries. You’re expected to have some knowledge of the language.

Anyways, that’s what I’m up to now. Not sure what I’ll do next!

Got married, had a couple kids, and still praised waiting tables for the cash for hours put in.

Fast forward some more years, and shit! I’m going to be 50 soon! My husband was laid off from a good paying job, and although he can find work, no one wants to pay. We’re looking at quite a reduction in income. I’m still waiting tables, and I’m shocked by the wage stagnation. Wasn’t I making this money years ago?

It’ll be several years until the youngest is out of the nest. I feel completely and utterly stuck.

It’s funny because you’d think I would’ve seen the writing on the wall years ago, and would’ve done some better planning. Nope. Day by day!

It’s really weird to look back and realize I’ve done nothing but wait tables all these years! I feel it’s much like my 50s housewife mother who didn’t work and questioned her own lack of job skills later in life.

I temped for a few years after graduation in the very early 90′s, and I LOVED it. I got to try out so many different kinds of jobs and companies and it really solidified for me what I liked/didn’t like and what I could put up with vs. couldn’t put up with. Sign up with at least three agencies, even though they may ask you not to (I think they are no longer legally able to ask this, but they used to) and call/e-mail them if they are not calling/e-mailing you, even if it feels weird. This way, they know you are committed. Once you go on a few assignments and they realize you are reliable, you will get call backs – and for better assignments, too. Especially consider agencies that specialize in creative placements.

Next, don’t assume that being a humanities major eliminates you from qualification for entry level corporate jobs other than administrative jobs. It doesn’t! You just need to know what titles to look for. Here are a couple:

Anything with “Specialist” or “Coordinator” in the title. “Specialist” or “Coordinator” is often an indication of an entry level job that is not solely administrative, e.g., Marketing Specialist.

Entry level data analyst/analyst. May sound boring to some, but can be quite fun! Here’s a good example of what I mean: http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mar/2034039853.html

When you are at the temp/contracting agencies, ask them specifically to place you in the above mentioned kinds of roles, or you could find yourself making coffee and answering phones for an executive all day. Which isn’t a bad job if you need the money, but won’t give you the kind of experiences you are looking for.

Finally, I think Michelle Goodman of the Seattle Times gives great career advice. Here’s an example: http://blog.nwjobs.com/ninetothrive/2010/08/the_myth_of_following_your_bli.html

Good luck!

I have been reasonably-steadily employed with nonprofits/government/UN ever since, outside Alaska – in fact around the world. Three years after graduating I went back for an MPP, once it became pretty clear I would need a master’s to keep moving forward. I’m glad I didn’t go to grad school right after college – since it was a professional degree the perspective from working was really useful.

In my ten years since college I have suffered two separate long (at least one year) unemployment stints. Actually I wasn’t totally unemployed – I was always able to temp, luckily – but not having a “real” job was awful. But I always landed on my feet. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself early in your career, and don’t pay too much attention to what your peers are doing – you will always have new opportunities to prove yourself.

I decided I want to be a counselor (a therapist, not a guidance counselor), but I need an MA to be a LCSW, so I’m headed to grad school this Spring.

Despite this, I do have advice. Many colleges have on-campus jobs you can work, even if it’s just part time. I work for my campus’s Writing Center, where I’m making $3 over min. wage to help students improve their writing. I’m limited to 19 hours a week, but I’d still get to keep my job if I wanted to take a year off before grad school. There’s a great guy I work with who has been putting off grad school for three years and working at the Writing Center the whole time.

Some of my other co-workers with BAs (I’m one of the only undergrads) have also gotten seasonal jobs before with Pearson Education as test graders for all of the standardized tests students have to take.